New York Yankees

“There’s so many big things that happened in this game to give us an opportunity to win.” -Joe Girardi Where to start with this one? There’s something to be said for starting at the beginning, with Vidal Nuno pitching well and the Yankees becoming the first team to win a game against Matt Moore this season. There’s also something to be said for starting at the very end, with Mariano Rivera getting his 18th save on the same night that Fernando Rodney — much like Jim Johnson earlier this week in Baltimore — blew a save in the ninth. There’s also plenty to be said for both Brennan Boesch and Ivan Nova, the two guys who rejoined the Yankees this weekend and without whom the Yankees could not have won. But on this night, let’s start with Lyle Overbay. Let’s start with the guy who was without a job in the final week of spring training, and let’s start with the guy who might not have a role to play a week from now. Overbay’s eighth home run of the season was a game-winning, a two-out shot capped the comeback and put an improbable win in the hands of an unflappable closer. “I want to kind of take it and enjoy it, because I could be sitting at home right now,” Overbay said. Mark Teixeira’s wrist injury started the series of dominoes that brought Overbay to the Yankees, and he’s been a tremendous source of stability for this lineup. He’s three home runs away from matching his home run total for the past two years combined, but Overbay can do the math as well as anyone. Teixeira could be activated on Friday, and it’s hard to know whether the Yankees will have room on their bench for a left-handed first baseman. “I want (Teixeira) back,” Overbay said. “I’ve always said, he’s real good and he’s going to give us a good chance. I just hope that I can coexist with him. We’ll soon find out. You try to think all of these scenarios, and the last time you think of it, something else comes up. Just try to enjoy this, and give my undivided attention to the team right now.” If I had to guess right now, I’d say the Yankees will find a way to keep both Overbay and Teixeira on the roster for at least a little while, but it’s hard to carry three players who are limited to first base and DH, especially when two of the three are left-handed. It’s an awkward situation, but even with Teixeira’s locker just a few feet away here at Tropicana Field, it’s clear that Overbay’s mind is clear and his bat is still potent. Girardi called him a “professional” and a “great teammate” and said “the guys love him around here.” “It’s going to come down to numbers,” Overbay said. “I mean, obviously you’ve got to be doing well, but I think we’re all doing well. It just comes down to where you’re comfortable, where Joe’s comfortable, all that kind of stuff. We’ll see. It will work out either way.” BRENNAN BOESCH Found out last night around 11:30 that he would be replacing Curtis Granderson on the big league roster. He flew out of Scranton at 6:20 this morning, connected in Detroit and got to Tropicana Field just a few hours before first pitch. Boesch said slept fewer than three hours last night. “I did not sleep much,” Boesch said. “But I had a feeling that I was going to get an opportunity there just the way the game was shaking out and the way Joe has been using me in those situations late in the game. (Fernando) Rodney is, for me, one of the toughest pitchers. I was just trying to do anything I could to put a good at-bat on him. I kind of did one of those Pronk swings where I didn’t really follow through too much. It worked out. I’m just happy to contribute.” Boesch’s two-out, RBI double pulled the Yankees within one in the ninth. Then he scored from second on the game-tying single by Brett Gardner. A half inning later, Boesch was out o

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Lyle Overbay made the biggest in a series of big plays Saturday that showed why the New York Yankees are on top in the AL East. View full post on Yahoo! Sports – MLB – New York Yankees News

Some notes… SS Cito Culver was placed on the Low-A Charleston DL for an unknown reason according to Josh Norris. Not sure what’s wrong with him, hence the “unknown reason” part. IF Jose Rosario was called up from Extended Spring Training to replace him on the roster. 1B Luke Murton has been activated off the Triple-A Scranton DL, the team announced. RHP Graham Stoneburner was sent down to Double-A Trenton in a corresponding move. The Triple-A squad was carrying 14 pitchers and needed some position player depth. Check out this Jonathan Lehman article on some of the team’s top position player prospects, with quotes from High-A Tampa hitting coach Marcus Thames. Yes, that Marcus Thames. They Yankees hired him as a coach in January. Triple-A Scranton (11-6 loss to Durham) 2B Corban Joseph: 1-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 K RF Thomas Neal: 2-4, 1 R, 1 K — threw a runner out at second LF Zoilo Almonte: 0-2, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K — man has he been slumping hard of late DH Ronnie Mustelier: 3-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI — 16 hits in his last 44 at-bats (.364) CF Melky Mesa: 1-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K – that’s his first walk since April 14th, and it ain’t like he’s a part-time player either RHP Caleb Cotham: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 4 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 1 HB, 5/3 GB/FB, 1 E (pickoff) — 40 of 73 pitches were strikes (55%) … he’s been completely overmatched at this level RHP Dellin Betances: 2.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1/2 GB/FB — 26 of 50 pitches were strikes Double-A Trenton (5-4 win over Bowie) LF Ramon Flores: 0-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K CF Slade Heathcott: 2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K — got picked off first … 23-for-75 (.307) in his last 19 games, but also 24 strikeouts and just three walks RF Tyler Austin: 2-5, 1 R, 1 RBI — got picked off first … game-tying infield single in the top of the ninth C J.R. Murphy: 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 PB 1B Kyle Roller: 0-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP — drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth with a bases loaded hit-by-pitch RHP Matt Daley: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 2/0 GB/FB — only 12 of 26 pitches were strikes (46%), but one of the walks was intentional RHP Tommy Kahnle: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K — 13 of 16 pitches were strikes High-A Tampa (6-2 loss to Dunedin) CF Mason Williams: 1-4, 1 E (fielding) 2B Angelo Gumbs & C Gary Sanchez: both 0-4, 1 K — Gumbs committed a fielding error DH Rob Refsnyder: 1-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB — only his second homer of the year LF Ben Gamel: 3-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 CS — ten for his last 21 (.476) with five doubles RHP Shane Greene: 5 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 WP, 6/4 GB/FB – 58/9 K/BB in 60.2 innings Low-A Charleston (6-0 win over Greenville) CF Jake Cave: 2-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K 1B Greg Bird: 0-5, 1 R, 4 K — hitless in his last nine at-bats with eight strikeouts 3B Dante Bichette Jr.: 0-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K C Peter O’Brien: 2-2, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB — ten walks in his last nine games after five walks in his first 28 games RHP Cesar Vargas: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 WP, 4/2 GB/FB — 46 of 80 pitches were strikes (58%) Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blogHeathcott homers in Trenton win

With the Yankees down to their final out, Lyle Overbay worked a crucial walk to set up a game-tying two-run rally, then homered in the 11th to lift New York to a 4-3 victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field.

Roster shuffling is becoming the norm for New York, which on Saturday placed Curtis Granderson on the 15-day disabled list, recalled his presumed replacement -- Brennan Boesch -- from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and claimed reliever David Huff off waivers from the Indians. The new-look lineup will have a shot at redemption Sunday against Alex Cobb.

The Scrap-Iron Yanks did it again today, this time rallying against Fernando “Shot Through The Heart” Rodney in the 9th, and winning it on a solo home run by Lyle Overbay in the 10th. It was Rodney’s fifth blown save of the year (he only had two all of last season). I was in Brooklyn visiting cousins with The Wife this afternoon. By the time we got in the car and headed back uptown the Yanks had a 1-0 lead. The Rays tied it up when we reached the Bronx. Vidal Nuno, man, he was good again. He left in the 7th inning when the Rays strung together several ground balls that gave them a 3-1 lead. Nothing was hit hard, and yeah there was a close play a the plate where the call went against the Yanks but it wasn’t an easy play to call–no great injustice there. What are you gunna do? These things happen. Fernando Rodney, he of the high-octane heater and the Duh Ha-Ha-Ha change-up, got two fast outs in the 9th but he walked Overbay who  advanced to second on Rodney’s first pitch to the pinch-hitter, Brennan Boesch. Well, it was before the pitch as Rodney was called for a balk. Boesch looked overmatched too but an excuse-me swing netted a line drive that managed to stay fair down the left field line. Overbay scored, Boesch had himself a double and he came storming around third when Brett Gardner flicked his bat at an outside change-up and singled to shallow center field. The play at the plate was close with considerable contact but Boesch was safe and the game was tied. The Rays had their chances. Yunel Escobar hit a low line drive to right field with a man in scoring position in the bottom of the 9th but Ichiro! was positioned in the right spot and made a nice catch; the Rays had the bases loaded with one out an inning later but Ivan Nova–fresh off the disabled list–struck out James Loney on an inside slider and got Matt Joyce to ground out to Robinson Cano to end the inning. Josh Lueke walked Cano to start the 10th and then mowed down the next five batters he faced. Then he misplaced a fastball–was supposed to be away but grooved back over the plate–which Overbay cranked for a home run. That run was enough for Mariano Rivera who retired the Rays in order, a vintage performance that was was as dominant and sure as any he’s ever had–could have been 1999, 2002, 2009, you name it: strikeout, ground out, strikeout. And the two strikeouts made the hitters Jose Lobaton and Desmond Jennings look foolish. They were schooled by The Master. Final Score: Yanks 4, Rays 3. [Image Via: Hossien Zare]

The magic continues. With two outs and no one on base in the top of the 9th, the Yankees rallied to score two runs off Fernando Rodney to force extra innings — and Lyle Overbay gave the Yankees the lead for good in the top of the 11th. With the 4-3 victory, the Bombers improved to a Pythagorean-friendly 9-4 in one-run games (2nd-best one-run record in AL). In contrast, the Rays are now 5-11 in one-run games. Beat you to it, Fernando. - Buy Yankees Tickets

I love the New York Yankees. This is not a secret to anyone who knows me or to any of you but that statement is especially true this season. They are so much fun to watch. Different guys step every day and most of the time it's a guy you wouldn't expect. Case in point, today's hero: Lyle Overbay. The Yankees were down to their final out in the top of the ninth inning against Tampa's closer Fernando Rodney when Overbay worked a walk which ended up being a crucial play because it set up a two-run rally to tie the game. Then, Overbay came to bat two innings later and hit a home run to put the Yankees up 4-3 and help them pick up their 30th victory of the season. Starter Vidal Nuno held his own for six innings. He gave up two runs on five hits with two strikeouts and one walk. Ivan Nova came into the game in the bottom of the 10th and was able to get into and work his way out of a base loaded, one out jame to prevent the Rays from scoring and winning the game. That set the stage for Overbay's 11th inning heroics. Mariano Rivera came in and pitched a 1-2-3 11th inning to pick his 18th save of the season. He's a perfect 18-18 in save attempts. Why is he retiring again? If you had told me in March that the Yankees would be 30-18 on May 25th, I would have laughed in your face. But, they are and they have now won a series in Tampa. After all over the kvetching I did about how much I loathe Tropicana Field and talked about how much I loathe that ballpark, the Yankees have taken the first two games of the series. This is my slogan for the this team. The 2013 Yankees: I don't know what the hell is happening and I definitely can't explain it but I absolutely love it.

When Lyle Overbay walked with two outs in the ninth inning, it didn't look like it would lead to much. The Yankees were down to their last out and their last run had scored eight innings ago. But that walk turned out to be the start of a crazy comeback that gave the Yankees a 4-3 win. Vidal Nuno got the start for the Yankees, and pitched really well. He threw 6 innings, allowing just five hits and one walk. Two of the Tampa Bay runs are credited to him, but when he left the mound, the game was tied at 1. And when he left the mound, it looked like a crazy comeback might not be necessary. But it was. With Matt Moore on the mound, the Yankees' offense got on the board quickly. Brett Gardner led off the game with a double. Two batters later, with Gardner at third having moved up on a Cano ground out, Travis Hafner singled to score Gardner. That gave the Yankees an early 1-0 lead. Nuno did a great job of keeping the Rays off the board for as long as he could. Through the first four innings, Vidal allowed just two baserunners, with only one of them getting in scoring position. But eventually, the Rays tied the game. With one out in the fifth inning, Jose Molina somehow managed to scoot into second with a double. Two batters later, Desmond Jennings doubled to score Molina, and the game was tied. After another solid inning by Nuno in the sixth, he allowed a lead off single to James Loney to start the seventh. David Adams, who made a couple nice defensive plays earlier in the game, misplayed the ball. Probably could have been ruled an error, but it was credited as a single. That would be it for Vidal, as Girardi went to the bullpen and Shawn Kelley was brought in. Matt Joyce came in and hit a double on a ball that deflected off of Lyle Overbay's glove and into right field. That one also could have been ruled an error, but again it wasn't. With runners at second and third with no outs, Kelly Johnson came to the plate to hit for Molina. Girardi countered with Boone Logan. Johnson singled off the second pitch from Logan, which scored Loney, making it 2-1 Rays. Yunel Escobar was up next. He grounded one to Jayson Nix at short, who decided to throw home and try and get Joyce at the plate. Catcher Austin Romine applied the tag, but the umpire ruled Joyce safe, making it 3-1. It was a close play, and from certain angles Joyce did look out, but he wasn't and the Rays were further ahead. After that Preston Claiborne was brought in, and he got out of the jam without allowing further damage. After wasting a Cano lead off walk in the eighth, the Yankees were down to their last out in the ninth inning. Lyle Overbay drew a walk off of Rays' closer Fernando Rodney to keep the game alive. Brennan Boesch was brought in to pinch hit for Austin Romine. After Overbay moved to second, Boesch doubled to score Lyle, cutting the lead to 3-2. Gardner came to the plate next. Gardner looped a single to center field, which scored Boesch. Seemingly out of nowhere, the game was tied. The Rays very nearly won the game in the bottom of the ninth. David Robertson was brought in to pitch, and gave up a lead off walk to Joyce. Jose Lobaton bunted Joyce over to second, putting the winning run in scoring position. Yunel Escobar was up next, and he hit one into right field. Ichiro made a great sliding catch on the ball. If that ball dropped in for a hit, it mostly likely would've ended the game and given the Rays the win. It didn't and Robertson struck out the next hitter, Jennings, and the game was headed to extras. The Yankees threatened in the tenth, after Robinson Cano led off with a walk, but the heart of the order couldn't bring him home. Ivan Nova came in to pitch the 10th inning for the Yankees. Ryan Roberts led off the inning with a single off Nova. After Luke Scott struck out, Evan Longoria singled off Nova, to put the winning run in scoring position. Nova then walked Ben Zobrist on four pitches, and the bases were

Lyle Overbay homered in the 11th. Brennan Boesch saved the day in the ninth. Ivan Nova pitched out of trouble, Mariano Rivera got another save, and Vidal Nuno gave the Yankees another strong start. I have to hurry down to the clubhouse, but for now, just trust me, this was a wild one. Yankees win 4-3. Going for a series sweep tomorrow. The post Yankees win a wild one appeared first on The LoHud Yankees Blog.